Perinatal Mental Health Disorders: A Review of Lessons Learned from Obstetric Care Settings

Abstract

Perinatal mental health has garnered significant attention within obstetrics over the last couple of decades as the long- and short-term morbidities of untreated perinatal mental health disorders on both the mother and fetus/neonate have become increasingly apparent. There have been major strides in increasing screening for perinatal mental health disorders, clinician comfort with prescribing common psychiatric medications, and integrating mental health professionals into prenatal care via health services approaches such as the collaborative care model. Despite these advances, however, gaps still remain in the tools used for screening and diagnosis, obstetric clinician training in diagnosis and management of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, as well as patient access to mental health care during pregnancy and especially postpartum. Herein we review the state of perinatal mental health from the perspective of the obstetric provider and identify areas of ongoing innovation.

Summer Standard Issue 2023

“…MMH conditions are the leading complication of pregnancy and childbirth, placing 800,000 birthing people in the U.S. at risk of death each year (Fawcett et al 2019). PMAD, which encompasses distressing feelings of depression and/or anxiety, affects as many as 20% of birthing people (Ayala et al 2023). Low socioeconomic status is considered the most consistent predictor for PMAD risk (Hansotte, Payne, and Babich 2017).…”